Day Five - The Lonely Klondike Highway

Another early start today as I anticipated a long drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City.   Many of you will remember from American History classes, that Dawson City was the lynchpin of the Klondike Gold Rush.   Gold was first discovered in August, 1896, but the Klondike Gold Rush didn't really begin until 1898 because of all the logistical challenges of men and supplies getting first to Whitehorse and then up the mighty Yukon River here to Dawson City.   

Like most of my drives along the Alaska Highway, traffic on the Klondike Highway was very light but the vistas were beautiful:

About halfway up to Dawson, I stopped at Carmacks for a terrific swiss cheese and mushroom burger.   The place is a small restaurant and general store (for sale if any of you are interested), with camp sites and a small RV park right on the banks of the powerful Yukon.  

The past few days when I've seen it, the Yukon has been flowing very powerfully.   I really don't know how these folks were going to paddle against it.  They're either very skilled or they plan to head down stream.   I didn't hang around to watch them...I wanted to get here to Dawson because...

 

 about an hour after hopping off the Alaska Hwy and onto the Klondike Highway, I spotted the warning sign shown to my right.    Ya' know what?   There are times when even the most traveled of adventurers must step back and ask him or herself: "Hmm...I wonder if this really is such a great idea?   Should I really go forward with this given the risk?"   I only hoped that Dawson City would reward me when I arrived.

 
And so far, it's been spectacular.   Packed dirt roads and wooden sidewalks, and many of the buildings exactly as they were 100+ years ago.   Except the small paddlewheel boat below (LOL).   That's used for a dinner cruise along the Yukon.

 

More exploring tomorrow.   Tonight I'm tired and going to bed.  Right now!